ELISA technology and automation

ELISA technology and automation

In the general concept, the ELISA technology is highly operable, without the need for complicated equipment, or even manual sample loading, plate washing and visual interpretation, to complete the operation of the technology. As people's awareness of quality control is strengthened, the system error of reducing the systematic error and reducing the labor intensity as much as possible is solved as much as possible, and the systematic error of the process of sample loading, incubation, washing and interpretation in ELISA is solved. Problems and efficient operational problems have led to the formation of automation concepts. The scientific, organic and systematic combination of ELISA technology for sample addition, incubation, washing and interpretation of results, as far as possible to reduce the impact of human factors in each link, has become the theoretical basis of automated ELISA technology.

In the automated ELISA technology, the whole system can be divided into several systems, such as loading system, incubation system, washing system and interpretation system, robotic arm system, liquid power system and software control system. These systems are independent and closely linked. . The sample loading system includes components such as a sample needle, a bar code reader, a sample tray, a reagent rack, and a sample loading station. The needle has two hands, one is a metal needle with TEFLON coating, and the other is a disposable one-piece filling head (Tip). 0 Some instruments have only metal needles and no disposable needles. Some are equipped with both needles. The function of the needle is mainly to add samples and reagents. It is powered by the liquid power system and is accurately loaded by a syringe-like dispenser. The number of needles is different on each model. One, two or more O-bar readers are important for helping to identify specimens. Current instruments are equipped with this device. In addition to the specimen, the sample tray can also be used to dilute the dilution tube for different purposes. The reagent rack is used for reagents such as enzyme labeling reagent, color developing solution, and terminating liquid. Some models of the instrument are independent, and some are on the sample tray. The O loading station is a platform for the enzyme labeling board, and some are The instrument is equipped with an incubator on the stage to allow the incubation to be carried out on the stage. The entire sample loading system is coordinated by the control software.

The incubation system is mainly composed of a warmer and a plate of metal material that is easy to conduct heat. Some are box-type, and some are desktop O. The temperature generally controlled can be between room temperature and 50 °C. The incubation time and temperature settings are controlled by the control software.

The washing system is an important part of the whole system, which is mainly composed of supporting plate frame, washing liquid injection needle and liquid sputum. The lotion injection needle is generally 8 heads. The amount of plate wash residue for each wash plate is generally controlled within 5 μL. The best equipment can be controlled within 2μL. The number of washes can be achieved through software control and can be changed.

The reading system consists of a light source, a laser chip, an optical fiber, a lens, and a photomultiplier tube, and is an apparatus for objectively interpreting the most probable reaction. The colorimetric probes of each model are not the same, and there are 8 single heads and 8 heads. The control software sends the microplate to the plate reader through the robot arm and the conveying track for automatic colorimetry, then converts the optical signal into a data signal and sends it back to the software system for analysis, and finally the result is obtained.

The movement of the microplate is done by a robotic arm or rail transport system. Another important function of the robotic arm is to move the motion-controlled sub-control software of the sampling needle O mechanical system, the motion of which is very precise and in place.